The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-04-09
HIS EXPERIMENT
What a German Scientist Was
Able to Prove.

I.
From a cosmic point of view a lovers
quarrel is not very serious thing, says H.
H Boyeson, in the EDOch. But then, moth
ing is very serious from cosmic point of
view; even Franco-Prussian war is i'm
potent to ruffle the serene face of the cos
mos, and earthquakes and tornadoes indi-
cate mere passing irritability and are of
no consequence. In the lofty state of mind
Induced by such reflections, Dr. Max
Semmler was apt to neglect such triHes as
fashions in hats and coats and neckties,
which could not be brought into any pos
sible relation with his science, and when
stimulated by the criticism of his fiancee,
Katchen Schrader, he resolved to conform
to the whims of his age, his experiments in
conformity proved always more disastrous
than his unconscious originality. That, of
course, led to scenes which were unpleasant
while they lasted, but were ''made up'' in
the usual approved fashion. For all that,
something remained after these quarrels
which tears and caresses failed to efface.
1t began slowly to dawn upon Max that
some influence was at work tending to
ALLEVIATE Hatcher from him; and after
having vainly speculated upon it for
month he asked her, with all sorts of
cautious, lover-like circomlocutions, what
was the matter. She shed few prelim-
mary tears, which, in Max's eyes, height
ened her loveliness. and then exclaimed:
"What is the good of my concealing it
any longer, MAXI"
Max declared that he could see no good
in it.
81 love you, Max" she cried; ''you know
that love you; but how can marry you
when you are such failure2 My father in
41a,4
ment with you and marry Mr.. Harbitsch,
the broker. That's what makes me cry9
for l can not live without you to scold, Max;
and yet what can | do, when papa and
mamma both throw it at me from morning
till night that you can make no money
that you are failureH'
''Failurep cried Max, jumping up and
rubbing his spectacles with his handker-
chief; II a failure /, who have taken the
great university medal in chemistry, and
and am now q tutor with sure promise of
q professorships"
Eyes, but what is professorship after
afl7 Six or eight hundred dollars a year,
with the prospects Of 81, 900 when you are
too old to enjoy it. Mr.. Harbitsch often
makes that in day, or even more"
Yes, but how does he make it? By
gambling and cheating l have heard that
his reputation on the bourse is very bad. If
wanted to cheat could also get rich, and
in a shorter time than Harbitsch."
"Well, could you, now? My father says
that you scientific men are mere nightcaps,
who sit in your studies and mediate, but
can not turn your knowledge to any prac-
teal account"
DR.. Semmler began to pace the floor
.angrily, buttoning and again unbuttoning
HE 1pr \ L. 60 ,,.,1
before his astonished fiancee.
''Katchen," he said, seriously, what is
s., 900 more or less to a man who stands face
TO face with the Infinities:"
81 do not know what it is to man, but
to woman who stands face to face with
the infinities it is a good deal. She can get
no end of things with it."
"Ah, my child,' exclaimed Max, in de-
spair, ''what are things! Nothing at all.
We are ourselves nothing at all. We pro-
duce scarcely a ripple upon the stream of
time. Consider the immensely of the time
that has preceded us, the immensely of the
time that has preceded us, the immensely
of the time that will succeed us, and the
immensely of the space that surrounds US;
the innumerable myriads and myriads of
our kind that nature has poured forth, is
pouring forth and shall pour forth to all
eternity; what, then, are you and in this
torrent of teeming, whirling, seething, in
exhaustible life? What occupation is no.
bier and more dignified to man conscious
of his place in this cosmic life than to con-
template natures grandeur, to investigate
her serene pitiless processes, to press his
ear close to her breast and listen to her
mighty heart-beat9 What is the occupa-
ton Of paltry, purblind, money changer
Lea
a priest in the temple of science who con-
tentedly burns out the Pickering lamp of
his being in the service of the great mother
who made himP'
''That is beautiful! That is grand, in
deed, calculated Hatcher, much impressed
by her lovers eloquence. She put her arms
about his neck and wept for while con-
tentedly upon his bosom.
"You are a great man, indeed, Max"
she went on, sobbing; 81 shall never say
again that you are failure. But" she
added, hesitatingly, gazing up at him with
an adorable, fearful smile, 'if you only
could make little money-not on my ac-
count, you know, but on fathers"
Max tore himself away from her and be-
gan once more to pace the floor.
"But you would not have me mere mis-
cradle money-making Phlistine who deserts
science and invents baking powders and
shoe blacking'" he cried, Indignantly.
ayes. yes, would,n she responded, en-
Enthusiastically "Do invent something
shoe backing, for instance, warranted not
to crack the leather, because that's just
what [ am in need of-Semmler's Shoe
Shinel S. S. S. in all the newspapers and
on the street corners. Motto: A child can
blacSen itself with this blackingl"
She laughed with delight at her idea and
chung one more caressingy aboUthS' neck